Rebels, ’Dogs pick up home baseball wins

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State struck for four runs in the seventh inning to beat Memphis on Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field.
The Bulldogs (12-9) trailed 5-1 after four innings before staging the comeback, ending a three-game losing streak.
“I was pleased with our comeback tonight,” said State coach John Cohen. “But we are still a long way from where we need to be. We just aren’t making the plays in situations and we are putting too much pressure on ourselves, and that is on the coaches.”
Five of MSU’s eight hits went for extra bases, including solo home runs by Jet Butler, Jonathan Ogden and Russ Sneed and a school record-tying pair of triples by Luke Adkins a senior from Nettleton.
The visiting Tigers (9-12) collected four hits and struck for three first-inning runs off first-time Bulldog starter Trey Johnson. Third baseman Jacob Wilson delivered the big blow, a two-run double to the left-centerfield gap.
The Tigers, who out-hit MSU 12-8, eventually led 5-1.
Chad Girodo (1-1), the fifth of seven Bulldog hurlers in the game, tossed two innings of scoreless one-hit pitching to earn the win.
The Bulldogs open their SEC home schedule Friday when they entertain Georgia in a 6:30 p.m. contest.

Ole Miss 14, Saint Louis 5
– OXFORD – Kevin Mort helped lead a 19-hit barrage for the Rebels as he hit his first home run.
Mort and Mike Snyder both went 3 for 5 with three RBIs for Ole Miss (17-5). They led a group of eight Rebels with multiple hits in the game.
“We were able to score runs, extend the lead and put the game away,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “With our offense, we really produced. We had several guys with good nights against a talented St. Louis team that can make you pay.”
St. Louis (11-11) led briefly at 1-0 before a seven-run third inning outburst by the hosts, capped by Mort’s three-run homer.
Trent Rothlin (3-1) picked up the win in relief as he entered the game in the fifth and worked three innings of scoreless and hitless ball while striking out three and walking one. He came on to relieve starter Rory McKean who worked four innings before the Rebels went to the bullpen.
The Rebels return to action on Friday night as they entertain Florida in a 6:30 p.m. contest to open their home SEC slate.